Developer asks for deferred lien at infrastructure meeting

Ridgecrest's infrastructure committee heard Tuesday a concern from a local developer over requirements that could hinder finalization of a 54-lot land division near Warner Street and Franklin Avenue.

Comment

By Jack BarnwellSTAFF WRITERjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack BarnwellSTAFF WRITERjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jun. 15, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Updated Jun 15, 2013 at 12:28 PM

By Jack BarnwellSTAFF WRITERjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Jun. 15, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Updated Jun 15, 2013 at 12:28 PM

Ridgecrest's infrastructure committee heard Tuesday a concern from a local developer over requirements that could hinder finalization of a 54-lot land division near Warner Street and Franklin Avenue.

City Engineer Loren Culp reported to the committee that developer Neil Christman was seeking a deferment of public work improvements, including paving a portion of Warner Street.

Culp indicated that Christman had already completed one phase of the land division, or 18 lots, on Franklin Avenue and planned to proceed with a second phase.

However, a remainder parcel is bogging down potential development.

Culp said the requirement established by the Planning Commission in 2007 would require Christman to develop a 1/4-mile reach that would lead abruptly into the desert.

Culp said the conditions also required paving Warner Street 10 feet past the centerline of the road, and that easement developments would be determined by the city council.

“In the city municipal code we have a provision for improvements that have not been developed,” Culp said. “The improvements are to be an agreement to be entered into, and that agreement requires the developer to specify a time when the work would be completed.”

Culp said the municipal code provided tools for the city building official – Culp himself – to grant a deferred lien agreement if the land divider is not able to complete street improvements. Culp cited other tools existed as well.

Culp said Christman had requested the deferred lien agreement for Warner Street improvements – something that would go before the Planning Commission and council.

However, the lien would attach itself to the land title and be transferred to whomever wished to develop that section of the parcel.

“Anybody that owns that land and wants to come in and get a building permit or do any land division, or at any time the city decides it wants to build Warner, we would go to that land owner and say 'It's time to ante up,'” Culp said.

Christman, present at the committee hearing, said it was an advantage to the city.

“Whenever that occurs, “Whenever that occurs, the city would have the ability to get that street improved, so it would make economical sense,” Christman said.

Developing a street there now would present more of a hindrance, Christman said.

“The problem now is if you put a street in now, you would have a truncated street that you would have to maintain the pavement,” Christman said. “It would not be used and maybe would be in such a bad state by the time it is used that you would have to go back and redo it.”